Vivitar 24mm f2.8

 

This manual focus lens can be found used for very little money today. This sample has Nikon F bayonet without diaphragm coupler of the later AIS type lenses. It can be used with most Nikon cameras (it also has “rabbit ears” for metering on older cameras with pin couplers).  It fits to old F bayonet cameras, new D40/40x/60/5000 digital cameras and surprisingly it also fits, given that there is sufficient space between the bayonet and the f-ring, also to more recent cameras with  fixed diaphragm coupler. It does not provide metering with newer digital cameras although this may be remedied by using live histograms or simply by trial and error in manual mode.

It serial number 377xxxxx indicates that the lens was produced in Japan in the seventies by Tokina on behalf of Vivitar in 1977 (?) (for Vivitar numbering system see here) .

The lens make is all metal. The focusing ring is smooth with diamond head rubber grip. Focus rotate in the opposite direction compared to Nikon’s normal layout.

It has 8 elements in 7 groups, 7 blades diaphragm and weights 250g. Minimum focus distance is 0,25 m and filter diameter is 58mm. The lens came with an original Vivitar polarizing filter.

The lens is sharp when stopped down on digital APS sensor (DX) as only the center of the image is used. Distortion and other optical defects  remain controlled. The images provided by the lens appear less contrasted than Nikon usual type of crisp images.

Users comments often point to poor color rendition. Although this may apply to different production batches, I found that images produced with this lens do have a slight yellow cast. This may be remedied by using filters (in this case polarizer) and/or by playing with the digital camera’s color setting, or even with white balance setting to achieve original results. Color results would need attention possibly in postproduction phase.

The lens should be fitted with any standard 58mm hood and front cap. Standard LF-1 back cap for Nikon mount should be used.

The lens can be used for static and nature subjects given absence of metering and manual focusing. Or with a bit of experience in hyperfocal mode given the generous native depth of field (at f16 everything is in focus from 2m to infinite) which may be amplified by the digital sensor factor.  Maybe I would not recommend its use for low light situation, unless stopped down and at high ISO setting.

So basically, this lens provides a quite useful focal length (equivalent to 35mm on DX format) with above average optical performance (especially for cropped DX sensor users). All this at a bargain if found in good condition used.

sample picture (center crop) color adjusted to vivid